Roller-skate



(No Model.)

A. R. FERGUSSON.

ROLLER SKATE.

Paxnted Mar.3, 1896.

UNI ED STATES;

PATENT FFicE.

ALAN ROBB FERGUSSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND..

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,501, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed January 17, 1895. Serial No. 585,260. (No model.)

T0 of. whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALAN ROBB FERGUS- SON, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in roller-skates; and it consists, first, in a skate having wheels mounted on journal bearings or yokes, the latter being held apart by semielliptic springs secured centrally to the under side of the foot-plate; second, in a skate having wheels provided with pneumatic, cushion or other resilient tires, said Wheels mounted on journal bearings or yokes, the latter being held apartby semielliptic springs; and it further consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the clip for supporting the semielliptic springs to the foot-plate, and Fig. 3 is a modified form of same.

The wheels A A are supported by and revolve on the axles O O, which latter are mounted in the ends of the yokes F F and carry ball-bearings at their ends.

To the under side of foot-plate D are secured the bearing-plates E E, in which are movably supported the yokes F F, the downwardly-projecting arms of which latter are provided with bearings to receive the axles G C, as shown in the drawings. The yokes F F project downwardly and are inclined inwardly slightly toward each other, and as said yokes are movably seated in bearing-plates E E it will be seen that the wheels will be permitted to move toward each other, thus permitting the foot-plate to yield or give under the weight of the skater.

Secured centrally to the under side of plate D, by means of a clip G or otherwise, are the semielliptic springs H H, the ends of which are secured to axles C C or to the yokes and normally hold the yokes in their inclined positions and permit them to yield or give under pressure. The semielliptic springs 11 H are designed to prevent too much elasticity, and when the wheels A A are brought toward one another by reason of passing over rough places or from other causes the springs II H will, as soon as relieved, cause said wheels to resume their normal position.

The foot-plate D is provided with the proper fastening and supporting devices by means of which the skates are secured to the feet of a person.

Where skates of the character herein described and shown are used, it is necessary to have the rear attaching devices come some distance up the leg, so that a firm support is provided for the ankle. This feature, however, forms no part of my present invention, as I consider myself at liberty to employ any fastening devices in connection with my improved skate.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a skate, the combination with arigid foot-plate, yokes hinged thereto, and axles, of bowed springs extending from one axle to the other and connecting them together, substantially as set forth.

2. In a skate, the combination with a rigid foot-plate, yokes hinged thereto, and axles in the lower ends of these yokes, of bowed springs connecting the axles yieldingly together, said spring connected to the plate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a skate, the combination with arigid foot-plate, two yokes hinged thereto and axles at the lower ends of these yokes, of a pair of bowed springs connecting the axles together and connected to the foot-plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALAN ROBB FERGUSSON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE MILLER, A. J. SCOPINICH. 

